Brandon Joseph, aka DJ Rock City, wanted a DJ name that would let people know that he had Michigan roots. During that time, there was a “Detroit Rock City” movement going on. He decided to make a play off that movement and voila, DJ Rock City was born. DJ Rock City’s older brother was a DJ and Rock City got the DJ bug at age thirteen. Rock City was the kid in school who had all of the music, so his presence was requested at birthday parties and gatherings in his neighborhood. The first mixtape that heard back in the day that resonated with him was by a DJ named Funk Flex. Hearing mixes like that for the first time only made him want to hear more. Hip hop artist like Ja Rule, Eminem, Tupac and Biggie Smalls had an influence on what he listened to. However, because he had older brothers he was into 90’s hip hop and listened to artists like A Tribe Called Quest, Special Ed and BDP. “I resonate more with older hip hop because they were speaking more about issues and what was going on instead of rapping about shootings, bitches and hoes, which I think is unnecessary,” Rock City declared. Rock City thinks that today’s technology has made it easier for people to become a DJ versus when he had to invest in two turn tables and a mixer to get started. “Now everyone wants to be a DJ and there is a separation between a professional and an amateur. The difference is being able to read a crowd and know what songs to play versus going in to gig predetermined to only play what’s in your crate,” he explains.
today’s technology has made it easier for people to become a DJ versus when he had to invest in two turn tables and a mixer to get started. “Now everyone wants to be a DJ and there is a separation between a professional and an amateur. The difference is being able to read a crowd and know what songs to play versus going in to gig predetermined to only play what’s in your crate,” he explains.
Rock City appreciates the new platforms that music has to offer like Spotify and Sound Cloud. He points out about how Drake unexpectedly dropped a new mixtape on the internet and instantly sold 500,000 copies. “Back in the day on every Tuesday, I used to go to Tower records and get all of the new stuff. I remember hunting for music, but now you get to find new artists that you’ve probably wouldn’t have heard of back then. Although music is more accessible now, I think musicians are less passionate about it.” Rock City doesn’t think today’s musical culture has classic artist like his parents had during the Motown era. He theorizes that fifty years from now only a handful of artists, like a John Legend type, will still be able to perform on stage at the Grammy’s. “This era doesn’t have our core group of classic artists. We don’t have our Stevie Wonder’s or our Michael Jackson’s, which were amazing during their time.”
Rock City is an open format DJ, but if he had any go to artist right now it would be Big Sean. A good house artist would be EDM, and Clean Bandit would also be on his playlist. Rock City is known for his signature Mohawk styled hair. He wanted to be different from other dudes in the room, so after wearing dreadlocks for some time his stylist convinced him to wear a Mohawk. He went back to Michigan to do a show and everyone loved it, so it’s now a part of his persona. Rock City tours all over the world performing and most recently mixed it up for spring breakers in Mexico. It’s not too hard to know when DJ Rock City is on the proverbial “wheels of steel’. Either you’ll recognize his music or his see his Mohawk.